Amsterdam Jewish Quarter Tours

In Amsterdam, the area between Nieuwmarkt and Plantage was historically known as Jodenbuurt (the Jewish Quarter). This quarter contains many buildings of historical importance and is managed by The Jewish Cultural Quarter, an organisation dedicated to the preservation of Jewish culture within Amsterdam.

You can access all of these buildings with a single ticket purchased at any ticket office associated with the Jewish Cultural Quarter.

A visit to Rembrandt's House is a must. This 17th century property of the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn is located on the street that used to be the centre of Jewish life in the city and features an exhibition about Rembrandt's life, his times and an interesting collection of his paintings and prints. I recommend you set aside some time to go into the small museum shop, as you can find some good quality souvenirs at reasonable prices. The house museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm.

The Rembrandt House Museum is also the house in which the artist had lived and worked for almost two decades, creating some of his masterpieces. It was within these walls that he painted his magnificent work "The Night Watch", which you can see if you take a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum, another of Amsterdam's must-see museums.

The mansion was built in 1607 and, before Rembrandt, had housed several artists and merchants. Rembrandt himself acquired the property in 1639. Although the painter was not Jewish, his paintings often reflect his life among the city's Jews: scenes from the Old Testament and many portraits of Amsterdam Jews.

Located within an impressive complex of four Ashkenazi synagogues dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, this is the main museum in the Jewish Cultural Quarter and one of Amsterdam's most important museums. It is less focused on the Holocaust and more on aspects of Jewish life and the relationship of the community and the city, being the only Jewish historical museum in the whole country, and perhaps in the world, to hold some of the most important documents and manuscripts of the Jewish community.

Known as 'Mokum' in Hebrew, Amsterdam was a haven for Jews for a long time, where Jewish communities such as the Sephardim from the Iberian Peninsula and Ashkenazim from Central and Eastern Europe sought refuge. Although part of the same ethnic group, these two communities differed greatly in terms of economy and status. This is one of the themes of the Amsterdam Jewish Museum.

In short, if you are interested in Jewish culture, you are almost obliged to visit this museum, which is open daily from 11am to 5pm. On Saturday and Sunday there is usually a market in the adjacent square, so consider going on a weekend if you want to enhance your experience. Here is an article on Amsterdam' s transport links to show you how to get there.

And of course you must book an Anne Frank tour of Amsterdam's Jewish Quarter on your trip, where you will explore the Jewish Quarter and the story of Anne Frank during World War II with a professional guide who will tell you everything you need to know about the time when the city was under German rule.

You will also explore the Jodenbuurt and Jordaan neighbourhoods and pass by the Jewish Historical Museum and the Anne Frank House on this fantastic and moving tour that will take you deeper into this dark episode of history.

Gassan Diamonds is an imposing brick building dating from 1897. One-hour tours in several languages include a visit to the diamond cutting and polishing areas, as well as a look at Gassan's glittering collection of watches, diamonds and jewellery. You can visit the building daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Before World War II, many local Jews worked as diamond cutters and polishers. It was once the largest diamond polishing factory in the world and the first to use steam power.

Round windows with the Star of David adorn the elegant Uilenburger Synagogue from 1766. Amsterdam's Sephardic community was one of the wealthiest in Europe during the Dutch Golden Age, and this wealth is reflected in this large synagogue, which is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the Jewish Quarter. Admission costs 15 euros, and also allows you to visit other buildings in the neighbourhood. Opening hours are from 10am to 5pm every day except Saturday.

As a fun fact, this synagogue (building for Jewish worship) located in the heart of the Jewish Quarter replaced a 1724 prayer house.

Synagogue services, musical performances and other organised gatherings take place here. Usually on Friday evenings, Saturday mornings and public holidays.

One of the few survivors of the entire development along St Antoniebreestraat is the Pintohuis, now a public library. Easily visible from its Italian façade, it is named after Isaac de Pinto, a Sephardic Jew who fled Portugal to escape the Inquisition and later became a founder of the Dutch East India Company. Admission is free and it is open Monday to Friday from 10:30am to 5:30pm, and on Saturdays from 1pm to 5pm.

Pinto bought the property in 1651 and quickly remodelled it in great style. The mansion was the pearl of the city, even more so when Pinto traced the interior in a style never seen before: as you enter you can admire the beautiful frescoes on the ceiling, with lots of gold and birds drawn on it. There are also more recent additions at the entrance, such as the little cherub reading a book.

Seeing the second oldest synagogue in Europe is a real treat. The entrance ticket also gives you access to the Jewish Historical Museum across the street. The synagogue is open from Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 4pm and on Fridays from 10am to 3pm.

I advise you not to skip the less main areas of the building (boardroom, winter synagogue, restrooms, office, candle room, mourning room, rabbinate, etc.), as they show much more than one might think. Also be sure to go downstairs to visit the treasure chambers which house some items such as 19th century manuscripts or gold thread tapestries. You can also consult a number of books belonging to the oldest Jewish library in the world!

The option to enjoy religious freedom is what brought most Jews from all over Europe to Amsterdam. Over the years, the city gained a reputation for being tolerant and offering equal rights to people of all communities, and so the community grew and a century later, in 1665, the Portuguese Synagogue was built. Also known as the Esnoga, at that time it was the largest synagogue in the world, having been inspired by Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.

Outside the Portuguese synagogue, standing in a small square in the middle of a small square, is the statue of the dock worker by Dutch sculptor Mari Andriessen. This statue honours the workers of Amsterdam, especially those who went on strike in February to protest against the Nazi treatment of the city's Jews.

To give you an idea of the significance of this statue, on 26 February, 300,000 people joined the protests. On the third day, the strike was harshly suppressed by the Germans, but it is still commemorated every 25 February with an annual wreath-laying ceremony near the dock worker statue. An event you should attend if you visit Amsterdam in February.

All political parties, as well as the city's public transport authorities and Holocaust survivor organisations, participate in the remembrance.

This museum is well worth a visit as it has an important story to tell. It focuses on how Jewish children (up to the age of 12) had to wait, separated from their parents, for deportation. Open daily from 11am to 5pm.

Visiting the Holocaust Museum is a very moving experience, as it features objects belonging to younger children along with their stories. There is also an exhibition of photographs, most of which were found years after the war in personal collections or antique shops. Many individual stories are shared through these photos and accompanying documents. More than 104,000 individual Dutch Jews did not survive the war.

Across the street, you can see the National Holocaust Memorial, which lists all the identified victims of the genocide in the Netherlands. A tall, elegant spire sits on top of the Jewish star, which is the centrepiece of the memorial.

The Waterlooplein Flea Market in Amsterdam is one of those destinations you should not miss. By far one of the most interesting places in Amsterdam, it is also one of the oldest markets in the city. If you value saving money, I recommend taking a full tour of the market before shopping. Many items can be found at numerous stalls, and prices vary from stall to stall. The market is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 6pm.

You can find just about anything here, from the most fashionable attire and old military uniforms to jewellery, antiques and electronics. You can even get great deals on tattoos, there's nothing this flea market doesn't have. With over 300 stalls, this flea market is big enough to see the whole thing in just a few minutes. So be sure to allocate enough time for your visit.

In terms of history, this market was built in the early 19th century, and was the most successful Jewish market in the city until World War II, when the Jews were banished. After the war, the market was revived and has since become one of Amsterdam's main tourist attractions. For more information about the market visit the following website.

The Hollandsche Chouwbusrg, once a popular theatre, was one of the most brilliant places for the performing arts and staged well-known plays and dramas. However, after the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, it became a place of tragedy for Jewish families. Today you can visit it free of charge, as it tells two different stories: the heyday of the Jewish community and the decline after the German invasion.

After the Second World War, the theatre's plight did not improve any further. Due to protests, the glory of this magnificent theatre never rebounded. In 1960, the building was converted into a memorial in honour of all the Jews who were lost in the Holocaust. The place that once housed the former stage now bears a reflection of the tragic Jewish persecution. In 1993, a memorial chapel was installed that mentions more than 6,700 families, approximately 104,000 Dutch Jewish individuals.